Safety razor with rotary magazine and blade therefor



April 28, 1953 J. c. FENNELLY 2,636,263

SAFETY RAZOR WITH ROTARY MAGAZINE AND BLADE THEREFOR Filed March 29, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET l INVENTOR. JbSEP/l C. FEN/VELLY fj MS'M HTTOEA/EYS' April 8, 3 J. c. FENNELLY 2,636,263

SAFETY RAZOR WITH ROTARY MAGAZINE AND BLADE THEREFOR Filed March 29, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 JNVENTOR. fbss PH C. FE/V/VELLY ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 28, 1953 SAFETY RAZOR WITH ROTARY- MAGAZINE AND BLADE THEREFOR Joseph C. Fennelly, .San Francisco, Calif. Application March 29, 1947, Serial No. 738,039

' This invention relates to safety razors;

One of the objects of this'invention is the provision of curved safety razor blades that are adapted to be compactly and safely arranged in an annular row with their concave sides facingthe axis of said row and generally concentric therewith, the said blades being of the thin,

wafer-type so as to enable flexing them from their curved form to a more or less flattened shape against the inherent resiliency of the blades tending to urge them back to their curved form.

' Another object of the invention is the provision of a magazine of curved safety razor blades arranged in an annular row with their cutting edges being straight and extending generally axially of said row but directed substantially circumferentially of said row, and which blades are of the relatively thin, resilient, flexible wafer-type so that the cutting edges may be swung outwardly of the row against the inherent resiliency of the blades to positions directed generally tangentially of the row.

A still further object of the invention'is the provision of a magazine of curved safety razor blades arranged in an annular row with their cutting edges straight and extending generally axially of the row but directed substantially circumferenially of the row, and which blades are of the relatively thin, resilient flexible wafertype, and which magazine is provided with means 'for' urging each blade outwardly along its cutting edge at a point around said row and against the tension of each blade so as to move the cutting edge to shaving position.

' An additional object is the provision of a safety razor having artubular head adapted to receive therein a magazine of, curved relatively thin,

flexible wafer-type blades arranged in a row v and provided with means for flexing each blade of said magazine outwardly of the row along the cutting edge of each blade so as to enable such edge to move outwardly of a side of said head to shaving position.

Heretofore attempts to arrange razor blades about an axis for individual movement to a shaving position has either required a relatively complicated mechanism for moving the blades radially inwardly and outwardly of such axis or else the entire assembly of bladesmust be moved,

thus requiring a large and unsightly head or hinged sides on the head or both, and inmost instances the cutting edges of the blades are exposed'and project a substantial distance outwardly whereby the fingers of the operator are in constant danger of being out while attempting to change magazines and the edges are unprotected from injury.

In most safety razors of the rotary magazine type it is very difficult to position the blade that ,is-to be used at the proper and desired angle 18 Claims. (Cl. 30-40) relative to the handle and to keep the razor compact and simple and to provide a compact and simple magazine of blades.

One of the objects of this invention is the pro- 'vision of blades, magazine and razor that overcomes all of the above objections.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a safety embodying the present invention.

*Fig. 2 is a perspective View of a magazine of blades for the razor of Fig. '1, said magazine being separate from the razor.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken through the head of the razor.

Fig. 4 is a sectional 'view taken along line 4-4 of Fig; 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective View of one of the safety razor blades separate from the magazine.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged part sectional, part elevational view of the support for the blades for forming the magazine.

In detail, the safety razor illustrated in the drawings comprises a handle I, head 2 and magazine 3.

The head, generally designated 2, is tubular and preferably cylindrical with a cylindrical wall 3, one side of which is formed with a slot 4 extending longitudinally thereof through which each blade is adapted to extend as used; Conventional comb teeth 5 are along one side of the said slot and the usual end lugs 6 project from the side of the wall 3 adjacent the opposite ends of the slot for supporting the ends of the blade that is adapted to project through the slot, as will later be described more in detail.

The handle I is secured at one end to one side of the head Z'and projects from said head.

The tubular head 2 is provided with an end Wall 1 that is rigid therewith and that closes one end'of said head. This end wall has a hollow central cylindrical core member 8 that extends from end wall 1 through the head coaxial with the latter and spaced within the cylindrical wall I a diameter to slip over the core member 8 (Fig.

3). This body In is formed with two spaced rows of openings II, the said rows extending circumferentially of the body and being adjacent but spaced from opposite ends of said body. The

openings in each row are the same in number and are correspondingly positioned around the body. Also the openings are of the same size and each is elongated circumferentially of the body.

The core member 8 is formed with a pair of openings 12 that are respectively adapted to register with an opening ineachoi the. rowsof openings ll upon rotation of the body It. However, openings |2 are not elongated, but are circular. v i Within the core member 8. is a. spring l3, that is bent on itself so that opposite end portions 14 of said spring will extend alongside each other and alongside the central portion l of the spring with the terminating ends ldbent at aboutright ngles to portions 14 for extendhig through the openings ll, -l2. The said end portions Iii are taperedas at ill at their outermost ends to facilitaterotation of the body T0, as will be de- 7 scribed. The bend at thejuncturefbetween end portions [4, I6 provides astop for limiting the extent that said end portions 15 will project through the openings l2. Y i :1

5 l The outer side of body. ill i's formed with a plurality of circumferentially progressively deepened recesses that, extend longitudinally o f the b y u st n ia r m e end t th other. A square shoulder 2I is at the deepest end of each recess while the opposite end is even with the outer surface of the body indirectien r fsiw a l f; he. le T openings H extend through the bottom of each such recess, the latter being at equal distances und ebgd In Fig. 4, for example, there may beeight of the recesses 2B. This number may vary. In each recess is seated a safety razor blade 22 that is generally rectangular and elongated and each blade is curved transversely of its length with thestraigh t back edge against shoulder 2l on body [0. The straight longitudinally extending edge 23 (Figse, 5) is sharpened and oppositely outwardly extending projections 24, are at the opposite ends ofthe bacl; edge. The projection 24 is shorter than projection 25 but both may be of the same length, if desired. ,4 4

The concave sides of the blades 2,2 Iacetoward the central axis of the body I0 and the curvature of each blade i preferably about. a-slightly shorter radius than the H).

The distances between adjacent shoulders. 2| is substantially less than the widths of the blades 22, therefore, the marginal portion of eachblade along its cutting edge will overlap the marginal portion of the adjacent bladethatis along, the rear edge of the latter. In this manner the blades will tightly hu the body and each other so that the edges will not be exposed to damage nor will they cut the fingers of an operator handling them. g v The blades 22 are snugly held against the body 10 and in said overlapping relationby end flanges 26 that are crimpedover the projections 24, 25 at the ends of the blades. The flange extending over projection 25 is preferably knurled asindicated in Fig 1 to facilitategrasping by the fingers for rotating the magazine inasmuch as this periphery of the body flange will project fr'om the openend'of the head i "2 when the magazineis inthehead The end of the body II! that projects from the body is closed by a plate '21 that may be secured to the body in any suitable manner.

While, as already stated, t e proiectlons it, is I may be or the same size, the projection is blade.

preferably slightly longer thus leaving a slight gap between the flange 26 that extends over the same and the adjacent end of the head 2, thereby, enabling the operator to more readily withdraw the magazine from the head. This gap is very small, but it is sufficient to receive the thumbnail or the like, if the magazine should tend to stick after a relatively 10I1g non-use of the razor.

BeferI HgtO Fig. 5, it will be noted that each of the blades 22 is formed with a pair of slots 30 that hpen outwardly of the rear edge of each 'l"hese slots are spaced so as to register with openings I2 in core member 8 when the magazine of blades is within. thehead In .,Fig. ,4, it will be seen that the slots au er one b ade of each acid 1 pair thereof I is overlapped b ftlie imi eriorate, pornr; of t sump de. Thus theend lt of spring [3 will project through the note the uiiderlyirigblade anc win engage the inner si e of the overlying blade forcing me aaer bum/am s The ends ltof spring '13 are adjacent the inner end of slot din head 2;' a s bjest seenin Fig.

14,, and are slightlyfspaced from said inner en The blades on. themaga'zine are ariafised so l! in thebedym arises soon as, this occurs the ei'l'ds lfiwill also extend throug the slots 30 in the underlying blade of a pair 'of the' latter, thus forcing the outer or overlying blajde outwardly away from thebody lfl. The blade 3| in Fig. 4 is the position of the blade thatiis so forcedoutwardly. Upon rotating th meszin e euntereieckwise; as seen mnige, the outwardly urged blade will movejth'rough the slot [4 inhead 2 to the s aving position as indicated by blade 32 in Fig. ,4, The stops on the. en s pr lugs 6 will limit the movement of blade 32 throushfslfot 4. The razor is now ready for use flli a v. a p I After the operator has shaved, the razor isreadily cleaned with water [and if. desired, the blade '32 may be moved backinto the head zjty rotatfingjthe 'rr'iagaziifl'e,clot:kWis1 v llntil ends [6 steer ng is are in the nextpair of openings, in body [0. 'Blade 32 Will be then in the position occupied ,by blade 31 and tofobtain afresh blade the operator will merely rotate the magazine clockwise li'iltil ends 56 plfdject through the. next pair of openings inbody (l9 and a counterclock- Wise movement Will bring the fresh blade into 615-- crating position. t v v N If desired, the magazine'vmay be withdrawn for cleaning, jsincewater may readily be flushed into j the magazi e from ts 'o enjeiid ahd also the in- When it is considered that the blades arerelatively thin and of the wafer type, it will be seen that the cutting edges of the blades while exposed are not readily susceptible to injury nor to being injured. Also the method of flattening the blades for shaving against the tension of the latter enables an accurate control of the cutting edge.

It has further been found that by pre-curving the blades the final honing and stropping are facilitated since the blades may be revolvably supported for these operations with the blades revolving in one direction only.

It is to be understood that the detailed description and drawings are not to be considered restrictive of the invention but merely illustrative of a preferred form.

I claim:

l. A flexible resilient wafer-type single edged, safety razor blade having a straight cutting edge and being precurved to said edge with a substantially uniform radius of curvature in its. dimension at right angles to said edge for self retention of said curve, projections adjacent the edge of said blade opposite said cutting edge and extending oppositely outwardly beyond the ends of said cutting edge to permit securement of said blade in a rotary magazine by means of said projections.

2. In a safety razor, a flexible resilient wafertype safety razor blade having a straight cutting edge and being pre-curved to said edge in its dimension at right angles thereto for self retention of said curve, means spaced from said cutting edge for securing said blade on a supporting magazine in its curved form and a blade magazine to which said blade is so secured with said edge closely adjacent said magazine and with the portion of said blade between said means and said edge free for movement outwardly relative to the concave side of the blade.

3. A blade supply magazine for a safety razor comprising an annular row of thin, resilient flexible blades having straight cutting edges extending axially thereof, said blades being pre-curved to substantially correspond with the curvature of said row in a direction transversely of their said edges, and means supporting said blades in said row with their concave sides facing the axis of said row.

4. A blade supply magazine for a safety razor comprising an annular row of thin resilient flexible blades having straight cutting edges extending axially thereof, said blades being pre-curved to subsantially correspond with the curvature of said row in a direction transversely of their said edges and being positioned with their said edges facing substantially circumferentially of said row, and means supporting said blades in said row with their concave sides being substantially uniformly spaced from the central axis of said row.

5. A blade supply magazine for a safety razor comprising an annular row of thin resilient flexible blades having straight cutting edges extending'generally axially thereof, said blades being uniformly curved from a point adjacent said edges circumferentially of said row, means spaced from the cutting edge of each blade for securing said blades in said row with the portion of each blade between said means and said cutting edge being yieldably urged generally radially inwardly of said row, but free for movement of the cutting edge generally radially outwardly against the tension of said portion.

6. A blade supply magazine for a safety razor;

comprising an annular row of thin resilient flexible blades having straight cutting edges extending generally axially thereof, said blades bein uniformly pre-curved circumferentially of said row, with the marginal portion of each blade along its cutting edge overlapping the blade adjacent said cutting edge in close relationship thereto, means supporting said blades row with their concave sides axis of said row.

'7. A blade supply magazine for a safety razor comprising an annular row of elongated thin resilient flexible blades having straight cutting edges extending generally axially thereof and longitudinally of said blades, said blades being uniformly curved circumferentially of said row, projections onrthe ends of said blades spaced from their cutting edges, a rigid holder in .engagement withsaid projections for securing said blades in said row. I

8. A blade supply magazine for a safety razor comprising an annular row of thin resilient flexible blades having straight cutting edges extending generally axially thereof, said blades being uniformly curved circumferentially of said row,--a cylinder within: said row coaxial with the latter, means carried by said cylinder spaced from the said cutting edges securing said blades to said cylinder with the concave sides of said blades substantially against said cylinder.

9. A blade supply magazine for a safety razor comprising an annular row of thin resilient flexible blades each having a straight cutting edge extending generally axially of said row, said blades being curved circumferentially of said row, means spaced from the cutting edge of each blade for securing said blades in said row with theportion of each blade along its cutting edge being free for movement generally radially outwardly thereof against the tension of the blade whereby the cutting edge of each blade may be moved from a position directed substantially circumferentially of said row to a position directed tangentially thereof.

10. A blade supply magazine for a safety razor comprising an annular row of thin resilient flexible blades each having a straight cutting edge extending generally axially of said row, said blades being curved circumferentially of said row, means spaced from the cutting edge of each blade for securing said blades in said row with the portion of each blade along its cutting edge being free for movement generally radially outwardly thereof against the tension of the blade whereby the cutting edge of each blade may be moved from a position directed substantially circumferentially of said row to a position directed tangentially thereof, said means including a member within said row coaxial therewith against which said blades are held under the inherent resiliency of each blade.

11. A blade supply magazine for a safety razor comprising an annularrow of thin resilient flexible blades each having a straight cutting edge extending generally axially of said rowi, said .blades being curved circumferentially of said row, means spaced from the cutting edge of each blade for securing said blades in said row with the portion of each blade along its cutting edge being free for movement generally radially outfacing the central wardly thereof against the tension of the blade whereby the cutting edge of each blade may be moved from a position directed substantially circumferentially of said row to a position directed tangentially thereoLSaid means, including in said "means spaces rrbm the entailed sienna within said row coaxial therewith against which said blades are held tinder the inherent resiliency of each blade with 3 cutting edges bf said blades facing in the same direction circumfereiitially or said row,

, 12. a safety razor, a blade supply magazine comprising an annular row of thin resilient flexibis blades each having a straight cutting edge eitendi'n'g generally axiauy of said iOW, said blades being curved circumferentially of said r'ow, v I cutting edge of each blade Edi securing said blades in said row with the pornun-or each blade along its cutting edge being free for movement generally radially outwardly theieof against the tension of the blade whereby said blades as desired.

13. A blade supply magazine for a safety razor comprising an annular row "of thin, resilient,

wafer-type razor blades each having a straight cutting edge extending generally axially thereof and facing substantially circumferentially of said row in 'closeoverlying relation to the blade adjacent thereto, said blades being curved circum- -ferentlally of said row; means spaced from the butting edge of each blade for securing said blades in said row with the portion of each blade along its cutting edge being movable generally radially outwardly thereof against the tension of the blade whereby each blade may be flexed against its tension to move its cutting edge from a position directed substantially circumferentially of said row to aposition directed tangentially thereof and spaced from the blade which said edge overlies. b

14-. In a safety razor, a blade supply magazine comprising an annular row of thin, resilient, wafer type razor blades each having a straight cutting edge extending generally axially thereof and facing substantially circumferentially of said row in close overlying relation to the blade adjacent thereto, said blades being curved circumferentially of said row, means spaced from the cutting edge of each blade for securing saidblades in said row rot rotation thereof with the portion of each blade along itscutting edge being movable generally radially outwardly thereof against the tension of en hus whereby each blade may be exed against its tension to move its cutting sage from a. position directed substantially circumin-annals of said row to a position dire'cted tangentially thereof and spaced from the blade which edg overlies, radially outwardly InOV- sue spring urged means within said row adjacent one side thereof in yieldable engagement with the radially inwardly facing side of'the blade adj'acent thereto for causing said movement of the cuttin "edge of said blade.

15. A safety razor comprising a casing, a plurality of relatively thin resilient razor blades arranged in a row within said casing with said blades curved circumferentially of said row,

mean supporting said blades within said casing "for revolution about the axis. of said row, each of said blades being formed with a straight cutting edge extending axially of said row, said casing being formed with an opening in one side thereof 'extending longitudinally of said axis, means ivithinfsaid casing formoving the cutting edge'of been biadeinto positidn outwardly of said row said rear edge to thereof extending longitudinally of said axis,

means within said casing for moving the cutting edge of each blade against the tension of the latter into a position outwardly of said row for -movement of said edge tangentially of said row through said opening upon revolution of said blades about said axis.

17. A safety razor comprising a casing, a plurality oi relatively thin resilient razor blades arranged in a row within said casing with said blades curved ci-rcumlerentially of said row, means supporting said blades within said casing for revolution about the axis of said row, each of said blades being formed with a straight cutting edge extending axially of said row, said casing being formed with an opening one side thereof extending longitudinally of said axis, means within said casing for moving the cutting edge of each blade against the tension of the latter into a position outwardly of said row for movement of said edge generally tangentially of said row through said opening upon revolvable movement of each blade in one direction to a point adjacent said opening.

18. A flexible, resilient wafer-type safety razor blade having a straight cutting edge and an op posite rear edge and being precurved to said edges with a substantially uniform radius of curvature in its dimension at right angles to said edges for self retention of said curve, the length of said radius of curvature being less than said dimension, a pair of oppositely outwardly extending ears adjacent said rear edge and projecting outwardly of the ends of said blade beyond the ends of said cutting edge, said ears being adapted to be grasped for holding said blade rigid along permit flexing said blade to a relatively flat shape by applying an outwardly directed force on the remainder of said blade relative to the center of curvature thereof.

JOSEPH c. FENNELLY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date -D. 59,243 McLagan Oct. 4, 1921 911,472 Brunacci Feb. 2, 1909 1,048,696 Horton Dec. 31, 1912 1,254,037 Greenbrier Jan. 22, 1918 1,843,994 Testi Feb. 9, 1932 1,961,236 Merrick Ju'ne 5, 1934 2,024,710 Weiger Dec. 17, 1935 2,056,408 Ohrner Oct. 6, 1936 2,213,062 Brandenthaler Aug. 27, 1940 2,281,166 Nava Apr. 28, 1M2 2,323,745 Wildeboor July 6, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 202,023 Switzerland L' Dec. 31, 1938 247,466 Great Britain Feb. 18,- 1926 

